Sorry to keep everyone waiting on their toes for the epilogue of 'Down the Road'! Hmm... well this will be a spoiler of Ep129, The Samurai's Song (I think. Hehehe). So, if you don't want to spoil your story, I suggest you shouldn't read the epilogue. Hmm... well, PART of my fanfic is going to be a part of that episode, so yah. Anyway, for those who want to read, I hope you enjoy the fic!
In the near future... (approximately 15 years after this story began)
"Ryoma, are you sure you want to stop going for tournaments?" a concerned Ryuzaki Sakuno asked. He nodded his head, but his eyes were fixed on something else. He was tossing tennis balls to a small boy with his eyes, only with brown hair. Beside the small boy was a girl with the same features as Ryoma. She had his eyes, but all she had was Sakuno's hair, as well. They were identical twins.
"B-but Ryoma, if you win another tournament, you will break the record as the top player in America!" Sakuno retorted.
"Sakuno, I know what I'm doing. I'm quitting from being a pro."
Sakuno observed her husband. He was tossing tennis balls to their twins that were only three years old. He squatted down, and smiled. "Here, Ryu, Sakuma!" he said.
The kids, clutching a tennis racket each, were trying to hit the tennis ball. The both of them tried to hit the ball, but they were unsuccessful.
Sakuno thought about her past. It had been a long, long time ago since she was a Seishun Gakuen student. After their prom night, Sakuno and Ryoma saw more of each other. When they were in high school, Ryoma would play tennis with Sakuno. Obviously, Ryoma would win, even after trying not to hit the ball too hard. He would hit normally, but Sakuno was... Sakuno. True, her skills had improved, but Ryoma could only think of one phrase to describe her: mada mada da ne.
Besides tennis, Ryoma would also go to her house (because she would call, complaining that she didn't know how to do the homework and needed Ryoma's help). He would take that time to stare at her without her noticing. Before they could even think about it, they were an item.
However, one decision had changed Sakuno's world.
"I'm going back to America tomorrow," was all Ryoma could say on the phone. His house was already in boxes, ready to be shipped off to California. He wasn't caught by surprise; in fact, his father had informed Ryoma that they were moving back to America a month ago. He wanted to tell Sakuno, but it was just hard. He kept on forgetting, and forgetting.
Ryuzaki Sakuno was speechless. Her boyfriend was leaving the country on the next day itself. She couldn't say that he was to stay back in Japan. 'Perhaps America was for him, after all.' Sakuno thought. Tears trickled onto her cheeks, and a tear landed on her shirt.
"Sakuno, are you there?"
"Oh, Ryoma-kun. Uh, yeah," Sakuno stuttered, trying to hold her tears. Why on Earth was she crying anyway? She wiped off the tears.
"Uh, Ryoma-kun, I'll call you tomorrow then, alright? Bye," Sakuno stammered, quickly putting the phone down.
Ryoma Echizen could never understand girls. Hey, at least I told her!
Ryoma was waiting impatiently for Sakuno's call the next day. She NEVER did call. Perhaps I should be the one calling her instead...
Ryoma picked up the phone and dialed her number, but her grandmother said she wasn't at home. Damn, where could she be?
Ryuzaki Sakuno was playing tennis against the wall. She hit the ball so hard on the wallm that there was a black spot. She was so frustrated and angry. Baka Ryoma. Why is he going to America? Why can't he stay back here, in Japan
Ryoma knew exactly where to find Sakuno, and he had found her there. She was whacking the tennis ball, probably venting out her anger at it. She looks mad. Uh oh.
Ryoma approached the girl, who glared daggers at him.
"You're leaving soon, Echizen. Why bother coming here?" Sakuno said, coldly.
"I just want to hand this to you, Sakuno, because you deserve this more than anyone else does. Keep it well," Ryoma said, handing Sakuno a plastic bag, which had Ryoma's regular's jacket in it. He turned back, and walked off. Sakuno left the bag on the floor and ran towards Ryoma.
"R-Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno exclaimed, hugging the ouji-sama from the back. He clutched onto her hand, and smiled. I'm sorry Sakuno. I have to leave. Take care. And.. if we're meant to be, we'll see each other in the future.
Sakuno was already 20, and she was in university. Time flied, and it had been two years since her boyfriend left for California, USA. His jacket was kept in a box, where she kept all memories, especially of him. She should have stayed in contact with him, but she simply forgot. 'I'm so forgetful, I forgot to ask for his e-mail address!'Sakuno thought.
For the summer holidays, Sakuno planned to fly to America. It was going to be a fun experience, and besides, probably she could bump into Ryoma over there! Her grandmother had moved there too, and was welcoming her with open arms.
Upon arrival in California, Ryuzaki Sumire was already waiting for her granddaughter. She had grown so much since the last time they met, which was approximately two years ago. Ryuzaki-sensei still played tennis, but she no longer coached. Seeing Seigaku become the champions for three years consecutively was good enough for her. Besides, she knew when she had to retire from coaching.
In California, Sakuno decided to take a summer job at a tennis club. She could watch people play; and chances for Sakuno to spot Ryoma out of the crowd that went there, was pretty high. Besides Karupin, tennis was his love. Tennis was his life.
She worked as a waitress in the country club's restaurant. (A/N : Um, in Malaysia, we have country clubs, which don't literally mean clubs out in the country, but a club which has almost everything under one roof. Facilities vary, depending on the club, but they most likely have huge golf courses, tennis courts, badminton courts, swimming pools, sauna, gymnasiums, bowling alleys, squash courts, ping pong tables, restaurants, and some even have SHOPS in there. All I know is that, the one that I usually go to with my friends have all that, and they also have florists, tiny playground for children. But memberships for exclusive country clubs like these are EXPENSIVE. LOL. But basically, country clubs are located in the suburban areas, or sometimes even very, very far from the city because land would be cheap if it's away from the cities. So, yeah.) The people that came varied, from old, retired men who played tennis to pass their time, to young children who would someday become pro players.
One day, Sakuno saw Ryoma once again. He was playing tennis against the wall, and she had just been dismissed from work. Sakuno rubbed her eyes, to make sure it was Ryoma Echizen that she saw. Yes, it was none other than him. He still looked the same, that air of arrogance, those golden feline eyes and that smirk. That was Ryoma Echizen.
Sakuno walked towards the grown-up boy. He, who felt the presence of someone else, stopped playing against the wall. He let the ball bounce, and then caught it with his free hand. He turned to see his visitor, but he never expected it to be Ryuzaki Sakuno. Ryoma thought he would never see her anymore, because his father said that he was to stay in America.
"Ano... Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno said, stuttering. Ryoma walked towards her, and without words, they embraced and then kissed. Her eyes widened in surprise; Ryoma-kun would never do anything like that! But then she understood. He had missed her.
She broke the kiss; and he looked into her brown eyes. It shows surprise. Was my kiss that bad?
"Ryoma-kun, I didn't think I could see you here..."
"Neither did I. How long are you staying here?" Ryoma asked, now looking more like his usual self.
"Ano, two months."
"Hmm, have you seen the things you must see while you're here?" Ryoma asked. Sakuno shook her head and smiled at Ryoma, blushing.
"I'll take you wherever you want to go. Leave it to me."
The time Sakuno spent in California seemed to go by so fast. Before she knew it, it was the end of her holidays, and her time with Ryoma. She wasn't going to see him for a long, long time. However, this time, they exchanged e-mails and kept in contact. They had a long distance relationship on the Internet, and sometimes called each other. They went on like that for five years, until Ryoma decided he had to take action.
One day, when Sakuno was online, she got a strange e-mail from Ryoma. It just read: 'be at the airport at noon tomorrow, and wait for the flight from San Francisco.' He couldn't be coming back, could he? However, the next morning, she headed to the airport.
It was already noontime, and she still saw no sign of Ryoma. What's all this about anyway?
When she was about to leave, Ryoma spotted her. He ran after her, and he tried to shout out her name, but no sound came out. When he could finally shout out for her, he could see all eyes on him. But the most important thing was Sakuno knew that it was no scam that he was going to be back in Japan. He came back alone this time, just to see Sakuno. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
Sakuno stopped and turned back, when she heard her name called out. It was Ryoma's voice! She ran towards him, and was in his arms. She truly missed her prince. He tousled her brown hair and smiled at her. He dug out a small box from his pocket, and opened it for Sakuno.
"Ryuzaki Sakuno, will you marry me?" Ryoma said on one knee, beaming. Sakuno cried out of joy.
"Only a person out of her mind would reject you!" Sakuno laughed; and Ryoma slid the ring on her slender finger.
Wedding bells could be heard in a small church in California. Many people had been invited to Ryoma Echizen and Sakuno Ryuzaki's wedding, and many had also turned up. Oishi and Kikumaru were sobbing, touched by how their dream had come true; their dream about seeing Echizen at the altar, waiting to take Ryuzaki-sensei's granddaughter as his wife. Fuji had obviously brought his camera, and didn't refrain from taking photos. Tezuka had also turned up for the event. Ryoma, who he felt had the power to be the pillar of Seigaku, had grown up. Momoshiro felt touched to be able to witness his good friend's wedding, and so was Tomoka.
"Seishun da na!1" Oishi chirped, and everyone agreed. It was definitely youth.
Sakuno smiled at her husband, who was already teaching their twins how to play tennis. Their choice to continue staying in America was a good one; besides, Sakuno knew the two would be the next big faces in tennis. Nanjiroh Echizen was glad that he was able to live until the day he saw his seishounen2 marry the girl of his dreams, and that he was able to see his grandchildren. He could see their potential already. Chip off the old block.
Ryoma Echizen had made the decision to quit being a tennis pro; and decided to teach his children, just like how his father had sacrificed his career for him. And look at him now; trophies and medals decorated their modest home. He was going to make his children fight to the end.
Uh yeah, lame ending. GOMEN! I knew I HAD to make an ending, after all. So yeah, if you're confused, the beginning part was the EXACT same thing that had happened in ep 129, where Nanjiroh was teaching Ryoma. But in this case, Ryoma has TWINS, and yeah. And basically after that part, it's what happened between him and Sakuno. Sorry if it's really mixed up... but yeah. I hope you have enjoyed the story and THANK YOU if you did. So, please review nya! sankyuu!
1 well, it means: "Ah, youth," kinda thing. He said that in Ryoma's song in SR Samurai, 'Kimi wa Dokomade Mo'.
2 seishounen: young boy, what Nanjiroh calls Ryoma.